Photo mat collage with sleeve

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a photo display assembly that includes: a means to slidably receive a photograph: a matted border surrounding the means to slidably receive a photograph; and an opening created by the border that provides a view of the photograph. The means to slidably receive may include a substantially rectangular sleeve. The opening to view the photograph may be configured into as one of the following shapes: a rectangular, oval, star or square. The photograph may be received at the top of the display assembly or through either side of the display assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a photo collage sleeve for mounting photographs.

2. Description of Related Art

Various picture framing and mounting techniques exists in the prior art. Conventional photographs are printed in various sizes 5×7, 8×10, 4×6 etc. Consequently, one must purchase a suitable frame in accordance with the photo size. A picture frame may usually require some assembly and processing that requires removal of a backing, insertion of a picture and a border, in some instances, and then the re-assembly of the frame after insertion of the photograph. Although most non-professional frames are relatively simple to use many require a number of steps in order to complete the assembly thereof.

Occasionally, frame assembly includes a number of pieces that are assembled after insertion of a photograph. Such an example exists in U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,933 ('933 patent). A drawback to the '933 patent involves the required centering of the photograph using a centering tool. Other frames of the prior art also must address this problem of centering the photograph after framing thereof.

Another drawback related to the prior frames includes the multiple parts and clamps that may be required for mounting a photograph. One example of a complex framing device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,858 ('858 patent). The '858 patent includes a first recess and a second recess for receiving the photograph and upon insertion of the photograph further clamping and flanges are utilized to hold the components together.

Consequently a simple more diverse frame may be needed to provide consumers with an easy-to-use frame for photographs. It would be advantageous if such a frame would be simple to use and void of any cumbersome of any assembly or disassembly in the mounting of the photograph.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a photo display assembly that includes: a means to slidably receive a photograph: a matted border surrounding the means to slidably receive a photograph; and an opening created by the border that provides a view of the photograph. The means to slidably receive may include a substantially rectangular sleeve. The opening to view the photograph may be configured into as one of the following shapes: a rectangular, oval, star or square. The photograph may be received at the top of the display assembly or through either side of the display assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a photo mat sleeve according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a photo mat sleeve that provides a means to conveniently frame and mat a photograph. The photograph sleeve according to present invention provides a fast and simple solution to the framing of a photograph.

FIG. 1 depicts a photo mat sleeve 10 according to the present invention. The photo mat sleeve 10 includes a mat portion 18 that surrounds a sleeve 16. This sleeve 16 provides a means to insert a photograph into the photo mat's sleeve according to the present invention. Once the photograph depicted as photo 12, in FIG. 1, is slid into the sleeve 16, an opening 14 provides the means to view the photograph.

As noted with the present invention the photo mat sleeve 10 does not require any assembly or disassembly in order to insert and display a photograph. The photo mat sleeve as depicted shows a rectangular photograph 12 inserted into a rectangular sleeve 16 for a rectangular display 14. The window 14, although depicted as a rectangle in FIG. 1, may also be heart shaped, oval shaped or even shaped as a star in order to provide the opening that displays the photograph 12. Consistent with the simplicity of the present invention, the sleeve portion 16 however remains rectangular so that the photograph 12 may be easily slid into and removed from the sleeve 16.

The present invention consequently provides an easy and simple system and method to use the photograph mat sleeve 10 that does not include numerous parts or require assembly in order to mount a photograph. The sleeve 16 and mat 18 may be configured in different sizes in order to accommodate a photograph. Conversely the photograph may be cut to fit the sleeve 16 in order to provide a method to insert the photograph into the sleeve for display. An opening exists at the top of the mat portion 18 that allows the photograph to slide into the sleeve portion 16. The window 14 covers the surface of the photograph and lies in front of the opening provided by the sleeve 16. Although the opening is depicted at the top of the photo mat sleeve 10, this opening may be positioned on the side portions of the sleeve 16 as opposed to the top portion as depicted in FIG. 1.

The instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made there from within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. 

1. A photo display assembly comprising: a. a means to slidably receive a photograph, where said means to slidably receive includes an opening to receive the photograph on side thereof; b. a matted border surrounding the means to slidably receive a photograph, and said means to slidably receive attaches to the border on each side of the means to slidably receive excluding the opening; and c. an opening created by the border that provides a view of the photograph.
 2. The photo display assembly according to claim 1, where the means to slidably receive includes a substantially rectangular sleeve.
 3. The photo display assembly according to the claim 1, where the opening configured into as one of the following a rectangular, oval, star and square.
 4. The photo display assembly according to claim 1, where the photograph may be received at the top of the display assembly.
 5. The photo display assembly according to claim 1, where the photograph may be received through either side of the display assembly.
 6. A photo display assembly to display a photo comprising: a. a mat sleeve, where said sleeve includes an opening to insert the photo; b. a mat portion, where the mat portion surrounds the sleeve and said sleeve is attached to the mat portion; and c. an opening within the mat portion, where the opening enables the viewing of the photograph.
 7. The photo display assembly according to claim 6, where the opening within the mat portion covers the surface of the photograph and lies in front of the opening provided by the sleeve.
 8. The photo display assembly according to claim 6, where the sleeve opening is at a topside portion of the sleeve.
 9. The photo display assembly according to claim 6, where the sleeve opening is at one side of the sleeve.
 10. The photo display assembly according to claim 8, each remaining side excluding the topside portion is sealed to the mat portion.
 11. The photo display assembly according to claim 9, where each remaining side excluding the one opening side is sealed to the mat portion. 